Rockstar Reviewer

Photo Credit: Remi Thebault Edited by Anselm Anderson Toronto-based indie folk-rock outfit Octoberman  returns with Chutes, their seventh full-length album, due later this year on Ishmalia Records The band has marked the news with the release of its advance single and video, “Harry Nilsson,” out Today. The track draws inspiration from the late singer’s iconic take on “Without You.” “I had recently lost my mother, so I was hyper-aware of mortality and how things can turn on a dime, ” says songwriter Marc Morrissette. “ Losing an ever-present person in your life makes you more afraid of it happening again, especially as a father and husband. In the end, it’s like losing a part of yourself that never comes back.” The band's brand of jangly pop and daydreaming soundscapes is on display in the single’s video, which pairs the song’s airy, powder-soft tones with faux vintage footage from filmmaker and extreme skier Nick Steers . “I remembered a conversation with Nick about th...

Photo courtesy of San PR Words by Anselm Anderson Last week, emerging British metal band Silk Spinster released their highly anticipated self-titled debut EP. The six-track release is a celebration of classic rock, featuring energetic riffs, massive choruses, and bold lyrics that capture the essence of rock and roll life. This release pays tribute to iconic bands such as Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, and Guns N' Roses. Photo courtesy of San PR Formed in Kingston-Upon-Hull four years ago, the quartet has steadily built a strong fan base through their theatrical performances and onstage costumes, paying tribute to the post-apocalyptic film Mad Max and the slasher film Friday the 13th. They have starred at festivals like Bloodstock and Call of the Wild , as well as sharing the stage with British Blues band Mother Vulture  and US Heavy Metal band Contortion . The EP has been a long time in the making, covering stories of monster slaying and lost love. The opening track begins with a...

Photo courtesy of Glenn Sergeant  Rising Guitar pop sensation Tora Dahle Aagård and her band, TORA DAA , will release their new single, “Baby Blue,” on August 8th, the second track to be unveiled from the band’s upcoming album, set for release on September 26th.  The album will be supported by an extensive tour to promote its release. The album launch will tour across Norway and abroad. Over the last few years, Tora Daa has toured Europe, earning international acclaim for her performances. In 2025, she was invited to perform at Trondheim Jazzfest, one of Norway’s largest music festivals, where festival director Ernst Wiggo Sandbakk hailed her work as “the best commissioned piece in the festival’s history.” Many of these compositions will be included in the band’s upcoming studio album. Tora comments about the new single ‘Baby Blue’ is a playful, unpolished and charming little blues tune. I wanted to build it around a classic blues riff and see how much I could get out of one...

Photo courtesy of Rogue PR Edited by Anselm Anderson American rock band Little King has announced the details of their upcoming eighth studio album, Lente Viviente , due for release in September 2025. The new record features seven tracks. The lineup of The Little King studio has changed since their last release in 2019. They have added drummer Tony Bojorquez from San Carlos, Mexico, to their team. Bassist and Cellist  David Hamilton, who contributed cello on Amuse De Q (2021) and Occam’s Foil (2019), has played with the band live in recent years. Founding member Ryan Rosoff returns on guitar and vocals, and  Curfew Vocalist Laura Sadie Bette adds backing vocals. Lente Viviente (Spanish for “Living Lens,” a play on Rosoff’s Video Memoir production company, LivingLens Memoirs). The album explores themes of memory and presence, perception and truth. The songs reflect on various topics, including childhood and enduring friendship in tracks like “Catch and Release” and “Dawn Villa....

  PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL CUSHY Words by Anselm Anderson Canadian Ska band, The Planet Smashers, have released their first single, ahead of their new album on August 22nd.'Meet Me On The Dancefloor' is taken from their upcoming tenth studio album, entitled ' On the Dancefloor', via Stomp Records. Formed over thirty years ago, The Planet Smashers have built a reputation with their ska-punk music, capturing the imagination of fans across Europe and Japan. With over 30 million streams on Spotify, numerous sold-out shows, and appearances in everything from MTV’s Undergrads to Japan’s cult animation series Catman, the band has toured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan, sharing stages with icons while remaining loyal to their fanbase. Matt Collyer, the founding frontman, also co-founded Stomp Records, a label that helped to launch some of Canada's most celebrated alternative acts. “Meet Me On The Dancefloor” is an energetic anthem full of fun and catchy tune...

Alter Bridge L to R: Scott Phillips, Myles Kennedy, Brian Marshall, Mark Tremonti Photo Credit: Chuck Brueckmann Edited by Anselm Anderson Grunge icons Alter Bridge have unveiled details for their upcoming self-titled eighth studio album, due for release next year via Napalm Records. Alter Bridge   will be released on January 9th, 2026.  Producer Michael Elvis' Baskette will once again take over the reins as the quartet recorded the album over two months at the legendary 5150 Studio in California and Elvis’ recording studio in Florida. Alter Bridge's latest album features 12 brand-new tracks that highlight some of their most iconic musical moments. Songs like "Rue The Day," "Disregarded," and "Scales Are Falling" evoke the band's earlier hits. "Trust In Me" showcases Myles Kennedy and guitarist Mark Tremonti sharing vocal duties, with Myles singing the verses and Mark taking over the chorus. The roles are reversed in "Tested And ...

Photo courtesy of IN WE FALL WORDS BY ANSELM ANDERSON  Portuguese alt-rock band IN WE FALL has announced dates for their upcoming UK tour in November to support their recent debut album 'Inner Self', released last December. The band will embark on a four-date tour starting November 20th at Oldham Street in Manchester, England. They will then travel to Bradford, Yorkshire, on November 21st, where they will be joined by support acts Metallica Reloaded and Skies Turn Black. Metallica Reloaded will also support them at RealTime in Chesterfield. The tour will conclude at Little Buildings in Newcastle. Formed in 2022, IN WE FALL was founded by guitarist Carlos Carneiro and drummer Federico Lopes in a small villa in Portugal. They were soon joined by vocalist Daniel Moreira and bassist Luis Almeida, officially becoming a band in 2023. The group released three singles before completing work on their critically acclaimed debut album, "Inner Self," which was released in Decembe...